International Cocoa Organization Investments and Fresh Start Organics Inc. recently signed a partnership deal that will benefit about 3,800 in the country, mainly in Negros Occidental.

The contract was signed in Bacolod City by FSOI Chair Ramon Uy Jr. and CEO Francine Marañon Uy.

“We expect this partnership to open opportunities for existing suppliers to increase their volume in organic agriculture,” ICCO Investments Executive Director Mark Joenje said during the contract signing.

The investment will help FSOI significantly scale up its organic marketing operations in Negros Island, including other areas in the Philippines, Joenje said.

FSOI foresees the number of small suppliers, supplying directly and through their respective associations and business enterprise, increasing from 1,900 to by 2020, a press release from FSOI said.

“Since, FSOI practices fair and transparent pricing, the small farmer producers are also expected to benefit from better price and better payment terms,” Joenje also said.

Fresh Start Organics is a privately-owned company, founded in 2005 and was transformed into a corporation in 2013.

FSOI plays the roles of a producer, consolidator, processor, and distributor of fresh and processed organic products through various market channels, the press release said.

Though FSOI manages its own organic farm in Silay City, at least 70 percent of the organic products it processes comes from small farmers and producers, small businesses, cooperatives, and social enterprises, the press release also said.*KBC